Three International Exchange Alumni members received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation’s highest civilian honor presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.

2010 Hubert H. Humphrey alumnus Joe Bangura uses his status as a national radio personality to provide information and motivation to his wide audience in Sierra Leone to fight against the spread of Ebola. Joe's business and leadership experience combined with his entrepreneurial spirit also drives micro-finance ventures for several small- and medium-sized companies in his home country.

The U.S. Department of State hosted a Regional Alumni Seminar Oct. 6-8, 2014 on Social Inclusion for Economic Development in Quito, Ecuador for 20 alumni of exchange programs from Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Joy Buolamwini developed Code 4 Rights with the mission to ensure that every country in the world has accessible information about local services that support women’s rights and that women are given the opportunity to create beneficial technology.

Biplab Ketan Paul of India, a 2004 IVLP alumnus, developed an innovative farming method for harvesting storm water to help farmers maintain a healthy supply of water in dry months and reduce the salt content in the soil.